Ilya Rudyak, SJD Candidate

Dissertation

Ilya Rudyak’s dissertation project is dedicated to developing a new conceptual framework that will allow applying insights from modern criminal law theory to contemporary legal and moral controversies surrounding issues such as targeted killings and combatant’s status of non-state actors. In addition, Ilya aspires to devise novel tools for critical analysis of the various proposals for alteration of the international humanitarian law, stemming from such controversies.

Dissertation Committee

Paul H. Robinson, Colin S. Diver Professor of Law (supervisor)

Student Bio

Ilya Rudyak joined Penn Law S.J.D. program in 2013 and was designated as the 2013-2015 Fox Fellow. Prior to commencing his doctoral studies, Ilya graduated with distinction from Penn Law LL.M. program (which he joined in 2012 as a Dean’s Scholar) and was the recipient of the LL.M. Excellence Award. Ilya also holds a joint LL.B. degree in law and psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and before coming to Penn he practiced law as a litigation attorney, worked as an educator at Yad Vashem, the world center for Holocaust research, and served aboard Israel Navy Dolphin Class submarines as the Head of Weapons Department.

Ilya’s primary research interests lie at the intersection of criminal law, international humanitarian law, and the morality of war. He also has a special interest in the legal and moral aspects of the Holocaust and their connection to contemporary perceptions of the rule of law.

Over the past two years, Ilya served as the Director of Research at the Law School’s Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law. During his residence at Penn, he was also the Center’s inaugural Fellow in National Security and Ethics, a Research Writing Fellow for Penn Law LL.M. program, and a member of the Criminal Law Research Group American Criminal Code project.